I have an 08 STI... it is fast as $hit on the track even on the stock tires, bone stock car.

Reliability at the track is a problem! I've blown an engine at 3000 miles and am getting a 135 next week!

Wow, I'd be pissed if that happened to me. Now let me get my two cents in, Stock for stock I zipped around on the highway with the 335, 135 & sti and the 335 gave me the most competition. The 135 and I were neck and neck until higher speeds then I pulled on him. The 335 had me by a car length the entire time up until higher speeds, then I start to pull. Now the sti pulled harder but higher speeds I was always a cars length ahead. It's hard to tell with the 1 and the sti, which is faster but... I would choose the 135 over the sti for looks and fun factor.

I raced a new STI yesterday. From what I could see it had exhaust, brakes, wheels, tint, wing, front mount, pretty much the works - it looked really good and it even had a custom tuning badge on the rear end. Brand new as well. We raced from about 40 and he gave himself a 2 car head start. I easily took him in the higher speeds from about 150km/hr. If we had a fair race I definately would have taken him alot sooner. After the race he acknowledged my car was really fast and took off. It seemed like with all the mods the STI still seemed a bit slow, I'm thinking maybe he was shifting really badly.

True, but thats why one should base their comparison on what they plan to do with the car. If tuning is the objective sti takes it, its nice to have the less expensive under dog beat the more pricey 6cyl when enough work is put in.

True, but thats why one should base their comparison on what they plan to do with the car. If tuning is the objective sti takes it, its nice to have the less expensive under dog beat the more pricey 6cyl when enough work is put in.

Then it's not a less expensive underdog...and reliability goes down. I've owned all 3 of these cars, STi, Evo and now the 135i. They are all fantastic cars with their own character. That said, street racing is not a good way to compare cars. You've got to get them on a track to really do it right. The Evo turns better than both, the STi digs out of a turn the best but the 135i is by far the better all around car save winter driving.

a neighbor has a 335 and we almost always are coming/going to work at similar times and wring the cars out, their speeds/acceleration are fairly similar, the 335 is quick & hella nice, and the 135 similarly. I was thinking of picking up a 1'r a year ago but am almost done paying off my sti, and have mod'd it thoughtfully well (375wtq/350whp) with all the suspension bells and whistles, and love it to death. Im gonna keep it, but I've decided the next chapter for me is gonna be 'no messing-around or looking back' so to speak, and will start saving to purchase a decently used z06 within the next 3-5 years.

True, but thats why one should base their comparison on what they plan to do with the car. If tuning is the objective sti takes it, its nice to have the less expensive under dog beat the more pricey 6cyl when enough work is put in.

You're using the old "I can put 5 grand in a mustang/honda and run 10's" argument.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Mac

Then it's not a less expensive underdog...and reliability goes down. I've owned all 3 of these cars, STi, Evo and now the 135i. They are all fantastic cars with their own character. That said, street racing is not a good way to compare cars. You've got to get them on a track to really do it right. The Evo turns better than both, the STi digs out of a turn the best but the 135i is by far the better all around car save winter driving.

Well it's been about 3 1/2 years since my STi was stock so I can't really remember what it felt like back then. It has about 380whp and has springs/sways so yeah, it's much much faster than my stock 135i.

I really have no need to do anything to my 135i because as a daily driver it has great power and an amazing ride. I got tired of the harshness of my STi on a day to day basis, plus with the big turbo and FMIC it isn't really setup for city driving.

I think if you want a really fast car you get the STi because it has such an amazing aftermarket. If you want an amazingly engineered car out of the box that is both fast and comfortable you get the 135i. I enjoy the 135i so much more for daily driving, but my STi still sends shivers down my spine everytime I drive it fast.

Has anyone went up against an STi in their 135? I was driving today and passed one and didn't really know what they had as far a numbers and wanted to see how the 1er would fair against it.

I went against an STI recently at a stoplight. Zero to about ninety and I finished a couple of car lengths ahead of him, even though he got a bit of a head-start. I'm stock with a step in manual mode. Not sure what he had. I don't think there would be any competition against your JB3.

I owned one of the first STI delivered in Switzerland, it was in 2002. I don't know the difference with the new ones, but mine had a 2L turbo charged engine. It output 265Hp, and if I remember correctly, the engine was capable to rev up to 7500RPM (may be more, not sure).
That car had three mechanical LSD and no electonic stuff except the ABS.
I had so much fun with this car... but the engine was a pain. Nothing before 4000RPM, and then everything, but at least it was then pushing constantly up to red line.
Suspensions were also a pain, so hard... way harder than the ones I installed on my 911 afterwards to do track days!
Anyway, with my 135, on the usual funny roads I have around home, there's no way I could be as fast as I was with the STI, both being stock cars.

Don't get me wrong, the 135 has better accelerations for sure, is faster, but not if it turns a lot. STI Suspensions were hard, but they were very efficient when driving very fast. I don't like the sotck suspensions on the 135, too soft and rebond badly controlled.
STI grip was amazing, I was feeling the 3 LSD working and it was really impressive. On snow, that car remains to me the best I have and somehow unbeatable.
I did several track days with the STI, but I kept it stock so it was not the place where it was the best. Never had any issue with that car, and out of all the cars I had, it's the only one that never went back to the mechanic for any kind of issue (not even a failing lamp!).
Look was ugly, and interior... well, they had to put something inside, so they did

Then it's not a less expensive underdog...and reliability goes down. I've owned all 3 of these cars, STi, Evo and now the 135i. They are all fantastic cars with their own character. That said, street racing is not a good way to compare cars. You've got to get them on a track to really do it right. The Evo turns better than both, the STi digs out of a turn the best but the 135i is by far the better all around car save winter driving.

ok, don't just think biased because you are now driving the 1 series... If we talk track performance the 08 evo x mr DESTROYS both sti and 135

Ex. evox sst vs auto 135 below, not the best video but you get the point

I picked up my 135i in April '08. An STI or EVO were not on my list. This car was not ment to be my track car (that is left up to my '80 Ford Fairmont, 400hp, blue chip durability, and lo-cost). Although I have AutoX it once and did one track day - It understeers stubornly in tight corners, and with it being an autobox (while a very good ZF unit) not ideal.

To me its surprising there is so much of a comparison between 135i's and AWD rally inspired cars (gaudy), I liken the "one" more as a sensible Teutonic pony-car. A 2+2, 7/8 scale premium crafted (and priced) alternative to a Mustang (been there done that).

For those that would otherwise dismiss this RWD car as useless in the snow; with proper winter tires it is virtually unstopable! With a 51/49 weight differential, and excellent traction management, it is uterly safe and fun in winter.

There is nothing on the market that tempts me, IMO it has an ideal blend of usable performance, comfort, practicality, reassuring build quality and (when careful with options) value.

Don't get me started on the Camaro SS I recently rented...all I will say is it looks like a show car (show boat?) and functions like one.

That video was great! .5 sec around a track does make me choose either car as I'm a street driver mostly. What I saw was a better looking car, faster in a straight line, and definitely more fun to drive. Not to mention we all know what $500 would have done to that test (wink, wink, err, umm... JB3/procede/others)

I'm trying to decide whether to buy the 328i or the 128i . I'm leaning towards the 1. But I can't seem to find any in my area, used. There are a few for 38k+. Aren't they 29k base? I went on BMWusa.com and built one... added auto, and power seats.. came out to 32k. Can I go to a dealership and order for the same price? When will there be more 128i used available? thanks

If were thinking total package, how is the 1 series the best overall total package when 1. You can't drive it as safely as the sti or evo in the winter and 2. It's literally got no space whatsoever...

I'd like to see a 1 series do this.

To youre first point, I drove my 135i vert in several deep snowfalls that we had last winter.

One night I got stuck making a 20 mile drive home at 3 am during a 1 ft snowfall we had, the roads were unplowed. I was on the highway doing about 35-40 and there was a new Jeep a few car lengths behind me. We both ended up taking the same exit ramp and I took it about 30, he followed me at the same speed an slide off of the road...he had an AWD Jeep.

While im sure an STi would have faired perfectly well in this situation, I am using it to show that the 135i can fair well in the snow, although I would always choose my dad's Mountaineer first.

and in regards to your picture I used my 135i vert to bring all of stuff with me to college. I have a lot of clothes, cleaning supplies, an xbox, computer with monitor, 3 in one printer, fridge, microwave, books, etc.

In all fairness that was a known problem in 07 and 08 STi's. Subaru had a crappy factory tune that was running to lean to be better on emissions, it leaned out the car too far at 3k and it caused piston ringlands to break. That why they issued a reflash for the cars, but for many it was already to late.